Italian Catholics Outraged Over Potato Chip Ad Depicting Nuns Receiving Chips as Communion

An advertisement by Amica Chips, an Italian potato chip company, has sparked controversy and outrage among Italian Catholics. The commercial features nuns inside a convent receiving potato chips instead of communion wafers, which are considered the body and blood of Christ in Catholic doctrine.

The Catholic organization and newspaper Avvenire have criticized the ad as "blasphemy," stating that it "offends the sensitivity of millions of practicing Catholics." In response to the backlash, Italy's advertising standards authority has ordered the commercial to be taken off the air, giving Amica Chips seven days to appeal the decision.

Social media users have also reacted strongly to the ad, accusing the company of a "very serious lack of respect" and calling for a boycott of Amica Chips products. The Catholic Church teaches that communion wafers undergo transubstantiation, becoming the literal blood and body of Jesus Christ during the Eucharist. As such, the ad's depiction of nuns receiving potato chips instead of communion wafers is seen as a controversial and offensive portrayal by many Catholics.

Why this matters: The controversy surrounding the Amica Chips ad highlights the ongoing tension between commercial advertising and religious sensitivities. It also highlights the importance of respecting religious beliefs and practices in advertising campaigns to avoid offending and alienating large segments of the population.

The backlash against the Amica Chips ad has been swift and severe, with the Catholic Church and its followers expressing their outrage through various channels. The decision by Italy's advertising standards authority to remove the commercial from the air demonstrates the power of public opinion and the need for companies to carefully consider the potential impact of their advertising campaigns on different communities and belief systems.

Key Takeaways

• Italian potato chip ad featuring nuns receiving chips instead of communion sparks outrage
• Catholic organization calls ad "blasphemy", offending millions of practicing Catholics
• Italy's ad authority orders commercial removed, giving company 7 days to appeal
• Social media users accuse company of "lack of respect", call for product boycott
• Controversy highlights tension between advertising and religious sensitivities